Moman,
You must have never been at TPA during Rush hour... I can tell you it gets nasty and the HCAA wants to keep the high level of service our travelers come to expect. Not having long lines is one of them, but with the fast pace of growth at TPA we can't hold the line time down. In order to keep our level of service, they want to begin PLANNING PROPERLY for the new terminal, which is a distinct difference of the HCAA to say PANYNJ. Also, the free WiFi is coming to all airside and landside at TPA!!! Another reason for me to come to the airport!

I agree with you on most points. I have been to TPA during rush hour quite a bit actually. My findings are this:
-TGI Friday's is always packed and it's getting harder to get a seat at the bar
-Wharf actually has some customers now! They have pretty good food in there too but the bar is not quite up to TGI fridays
-They should hire quicker people to check boarding passes before getting on the shuttles.

The main problem I see for the landside terminal is the log jam waiting to get on the shuttles. The people checking ID's/tickets are friendly, but not quite efficient. It would help if people had their license/ticket out when they get up there. If waiting people sat in the areas beside the "train banks" there wouldn't be congestion in that area either.

I still do not see where they need a new terminal, yet. I am not aware that any of the airsides are operating at capacity, especially after C opens back up. If they built a whole new complex now, they might be waiting 20-30 years for the traffic to fill it. I'd hate to see TPA like STL, a big airport that is empty and way below capacity, waiting for brighter days. However, I am glad that Louis Miller and staff are progressive thinkers.

Looks like TPA caught the "MCO" syndrome (creating a mirror airside facility). Unless the prospects for TPA include becoming a major airline hub in the future, I can't see the use of the North Terminal Complex. There is still opportunities to rebuild Airside D, and if HCAA can modify Airside A to have its own baggage sorting facility, the "current" baggage sorting facility next to it can be modified for air carrier operations. I would hate to see money wasted where there are more opportunities for growth where the current resources haven't been exhausted.

Also, TPA hasn't "maxed" itself out as far as full runway capacity is concerned. Thanks to the NIMBY residents south and east of the airport, 18L/36R and 9/27 doesn't get to see full utilization.

Well, Airside B can never be rebuilt because there is not enough room to build a worth while terminal. The leaders of the HCAA are smart people and you must remember these are mearly the planning stages. It takes a long time for the government to build something especially a new terminal. The current TPA facility is reaching its limits, you must remember that it has been built over 30 years ago and it can't be modified to great efficency. I also do not want to see TPA overbuilt, but you always have to plan ahead unless you want to end up like ORD or JFK.

What needs expansion the most is PARKING! I don't know how many times in recent months that I have arrived at the airport to find the long-term lots full.

There are already plans to build a new deck, but it's going to be a remote deck located behind the Post Office, which I doubt will be connected to the terminal building by a tram. I personally hate having to park, wait for a bus, load bags, drive 5 minutes, unload bags, etc. (It's not that I'm lazy, it just that I hate inconvience-and I'm usually running late) It's so much easier to just park in the Long Term lot and take the train on level 5 or just walk from Level 2.

But really, should we complain? Tampa is by far (in my opinion) one of the most user friendly airports for one of its size.

Yes, Airside B was Eastern's. After they went belly up it just sat there. I remember the old PBA DC-3 there each morning on their flights around the state. Watching the ground crew with the fire extinguisher as they started engines.

L104me - I agree with your last comment. Being a former DL dependent and making the most of my travel passes to travel all over the US, TPA is one of the if not THE most user friendly airport around.